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Kimi Antonelli to start from the back in home race at Monza after engine change

World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start Sunday from the back of the grid in the Italian Grand Prix due to an engine change, confirms Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

1 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Kimi Antonelli to start from the back in home race at Monza after engine change — Photo: Liauzh · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old World Championship leader in Formula 1, will start from the back of the grid in the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit on Sunday. This penalty is the result of an engine change that has been made to his car, according to Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes.

Wolff confirmed the engine change on Monday in a preview on the Mercedes website. This means that Antonelli, despite his leading position in the championship, will not be able to start his home race from the front of the grid.

During the race in Monza, Antonelli will need to work his way up from the last position. This is particularly disappointing for the Italian, who wishes to showcase his performance in front of the local fans.

Archive photo: Kimi Antonelli to start from the back in home race at Monza after engine change — Archive photoPhoto: Andrea Kimi Antonelli · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The Italian driver has made a strong impression in the championship thus far, but the grid penalty could adversely affect his chances of victory.

Wolff also spoke about the impact of such penalties, indicating that sentiment is not rewarded in the sport. This underscores the strict rules in Formula 1 regarding engine changes.

This weekend, the Formula 1 circus will be in Monza following the departure from the Dutch Grand Prix.

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